Shrinking Episode 5 finds the trio of therapists decoding the nitty-gritty aspects of their patient’s life, while finally coming to terms with some of their own. The episode picks up the theme of unresolved trauma and adds a layer of delicate and responsible humour to it. Moreover, the instalment is helmed by James Ponsoldt and has a total runtime of 31 minutes.

For the unversed, the series is created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein and features Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams as Gaby, Luke Tennie as Sean, Michael Urie as Brian, Lukita Maxwell as Alice, and Christa Miller as Liz.

The official synopsis of the series reads as

A THERAPIST, JIMMY LAIRD, DEALING WITH SEVERE GRIEF BEGINS TO BREACH ETHICAL BARRIERS BY TELLING HIS PATIENTS WHAT HE COMPLETELY THINKS, RESULTING IN MASSIVE CHANGES TO HIS AND THEIR LIVES.

-Shrinking Episode 5 Recap Contains Spoilers-

The latest instalment of the therapist dramedy starts with yet another charming appearance from Derek, before it leads into the usual themes of trauma and its resolution, with a little more emphasis on the decoding part.

Moreover, in Shrinking Episode 5, the focus shifts away from Jimmy and instead centres around the other characters in the show. Sean, who was previously thrown out of his home by his father, receives a message from him asking to reconnect with the family. Despite his initial reluctance, Jimmy encourages Sean to go through with the meeting, hoping it will provide him with a fresh perspective.

In the meantime, Brian, Jimmy’s attorney friend, is having doubts about his plan to propose to his husband and take their relationship to the next level. He confides in Jimmy about his uncertainty, worried about the potential consequences.

On the work front, Paul is struggling to find someone to discuss his patients with, after deciding to not speak with Jimmy about them anymore. He tries to bring up the topic with Gaby, but she shuts him down, not wanting to be a second choice when Jimmy is unavailable.
The episode takes a turn when Sean returns from his family meeting in an agitated mood and asks Alice to go for a walk. However, he soon climbs a tower, causing Alice to become concerned and share the information with Jimmy.

Also Read: Shrinking Episode 4 Twitter Reactions: Fans Root for Paul and His Grumpy One-Liners

Furthermore, Jimmy attempts to speak with him but Sean refuses to open up about his feelings. In the end, it is Paul who arrives on the scene and manages to diffuse the situation and get Sean to open up.

This in turn helps Paul to understand his own fears and relate the unexpressed emotions to his daughter. The episode concludes with Paul finally coming to terms with his difficult decision and revealing to his daughter that he has Parkinson’s disease (or at least hinting towards the fact that he has relayed a vital piece of information).

Shrinking Episode 5 Review

The latest episode is another mature instalment of the series, with all the typical nuances in the right place. Notably, the episode doesn’t focus on Jimmy’s story arc as much, but it does provide an opportunity to explore the other characters and their personal struggles.

The instalment also had one of the most diverse teleplays in the series, highlighting the emotional and personal challenges of nearly all the characters. Followed by a better understanding of the complex relationships between them, and how they are planning to cope with various difficulties in their lives.

So far it has been a privilege to watch Harrison Ford throughout, as he brings his masterclass in place. The veteran star is nailing each and every aspect of his character and has no plans to stop with the momentum.

Moreover, the episode also leaves us wondering what will happen next with Sean and if his relationship with Alice will develop into something more. Additionally, it will be interesting to see if there will be more moments of banter between Jimmy and Liz in future episodes, something which was dearly missed in this one.

You can stream Shrinking Episode 5 on Apple TV Plus. Let us know your thoughts about it in the comment section below. Meanwhile, you can read our review of the previous episode below.

Also Read: Shrinking Episode 4 Recap and Review: Fathers and Daughters